February 2007
The monthly e-newsletter for members of the UNCG Parent/Family Association



The Office of Orientation & Family Programs, in an effort to provide more information to the parents and family members of our current students, is happy to announce that it has recently merged two large databases: our UNCG Parent/Family Association database and the FamilyLink emergency listserv. Both entities are free memberships for those who join, both provide a link to UNCG campus happenings, but if you have only recently begun receiving Family Connections, it is likely that your email address was only in the FamilyLink listserv before - meaning that you would only hear from UNCG when an emergency situation arises on campus.

This consolidated list should provide a more efficient and effective means for communication to the families of current Spartan undergraduates. Streamlining our communication and offering additional information is a step we hope serves you better and keeps this free membership a positive addition to the great value you experience from UNCG. You will hear from us in case of emergency as well as receiving this monthly e-newsletter during the academic year.

Please keep your comments and suggestions coming by emailing us at: families@uncg.edu, and as always, when your student graduates or you are ready for this service to end, please just email us with the address you'd like removed from the database. For more information, resources, and newsletter archives, please visit our website at: http://ori.dept.uncg.edu/families/.

Once again, welcome (or welcome back!) to the UNCG Parent/Family Association!



It is that time of year again, time for students to think about where they will be living for the upcoming academic year. Housing & Residence Life has made some changes to this process for returning students (defined as students who are currently living on campus). In the past, returning students have been able to sign up for housing during the month of February and were assigned to residence hall space based on original application date. This year, current residents who wish to reapply for housing will still complete a housing agreement form on line but they will be able to select the specific space in which they wish to live and their priority will be based on their class and credit hours earned. Students will have three options to choose from: homestead (stay in the same space for next year), move to a new space in their current residence hall, or move to a new residence hall altogether. Students need to fill out an application between February 1 and February 18. Students will be notified of their assignment via email on February 22. For more information on how to sign up for housing and more details on the options provided, please visit: http://hrl.uncg.edu/services/halls/apply/ReturningStudentSignup.pdf.



Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked UNCG 53rd out of the top 100 values in public higher education. The magazine evaluated 500 colleges and universities before creating its rankings. Other North Carolina state universities that made the ranking include UNC Chapel Hill, N.C. State, Appalachian State, UNC Wilmington, and UNC Asheville. For more information on the rankings and the University's response, please visit: http://www.uncg.edu/ure/news/stories/2007/Jan/kiplingers011207.htm.



If so, you and your student should explore the services offered by UNCG's Student Success Center: http://success.uncg.edu/ . The Student Success Center houses the Learning Assistance Center ( http://success.uncg.edu/lac/ ), which provides tutoring and other services to improve academic performance; Special Support Services, which provides assistance to first-generation college students and students with disabilities; and the Supplemental Instruction Program, which provides weekly discussion/review sessions for students enrolled in historically difficult courses. All services are free and open to UNCG students. For more information on the Supplemental Instruction Program and to find out the courses in which assistance is currently being offered, please visit: http://success.uncg.edu/sip/ . The application for services can be found at: http://success.uncg.edu/services/.



If your students will be living off campus next year, they may want to check out the Off-Campus Housing Fair being held on February 26 from 10am-2pm in EUC Cone Ballroom A & B; about 30 local properties will be represented. Also, UNCG's Office of Student Life provides a website with information for students who wish to live off-campus. Information about rental agreements, security tips, and local off-campus housing opportunities are provided. The site even offers a chance for students to post ads for roommates and notices regarding houses and apartments for rent. To access this site, please visit: http://euc.uncg.edu/services/information/offcampushousing/.



Interested in becoming more involved on the UNCG campus? Apply to become a member of UNCG's Parent Family Advisory Council. PFAC serves as the board for the Parent/Family Association and meets bi-annually on campus to discuss current ideas and issues facing the UNCG community, as well as helping out with SOAR, Family Weekend, fundraising, and other events. The application deadline has been extended to February 23. For more information about PFAC, please visit: http://ori.dept.uncg.edu/families/council/ or you can link directly to the application by visiting: http://ori.dept.uncg.edu/families/council/pfac.html.



Career Services will be holding a part-time and summer job fair on February 19. The fair will provide students with an opportunity to search for both part-time jobs during the school year and summer jobs and internships. The fair will be held in the EUC's Cone Ballroom from 12:30 to 4 pm. Please remind your student to dress professionally and to bring his or her UNCG FirstCard. For a list of employers who will be present at the fair, please visit: http://web.uncg.edu/hire/ptjobfair/participants.asp .



As one of its many services to students, the UNCG Police Department offers Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Training. RAD is a program that teaches self-defense tactics and techniques to women. The course meets four times on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. The next session dates are February 20, 22, 27, and March 1. Students should register as soon as possible because space is limited and sessions tend to fill quickly. For more information on the program, please visit: http://police.uncg.edu/Programs_Information/RAD.htm . To register for the program, please visit: http://police.uncg.edu/OnLineServices/RadRegistration.htm .



The Office of Orientation & Family Programs is still working on a list of compiled advice for parents of college students from other parents. We need your help as we look for several categories of advice:
  - The best advice you've ever given your student
  - Advice that you WISH you had given your student
  - Advice you would give other parents of college students

Be sure to let us know into which category your advice falls. If you have some words of wisdom to pass on to other parents, please send your responses via email to: families@uncg.edu . We look forward to hearing from you!



Encourage your student to support UNCG student organizations and their favorite contemporary art museum by attending the Valentine Remix Party at the Weatherspoon Art Museum on Thursday, February 15 from 6:30 to 9pm. The party will feature group scavenger hunts, raffles, desserts, and music. Co-sponsored by the Weatherspoon Art Museum, WUAG, the Student Art League, and other UNCG Student Organizations, this promises to be great time for students to celebrate the holiday. For more information please call the museum at 336.334.5770 or visit: http://weatherspoon.uncg.edu/events/events_detail.asp?WamCoeID=295 .



We are here to serve you, the parent and family members of UNCG students. If you have suggestions for future articles in Family Connections or any general suggestions, comments, or concerns, please email us at families@uncg.edu . We look forward to hearing from you!



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